Jigger conveyer



E. RlDGlLL JIGGER CONVEYER Sept. 6, 1932'.

Filed March 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet sept. 6, `193,2.

l E. RlDGlLL i JIGGER coNvEYER l Filed March 284, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Hf Q /V YEA/TOR.

E. RIDGILL Sept. 6, 1932.

JIGGER CONVEYER Filed March 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 6,1932 Price-1,*4

ERNEsTRIDGrLL, or SHEFFI'ELD, ENGLAND amena, CONVEYER rlhis invention islfor improvementsin 'or relating to Jigger conveyers and moreparticularly to mechanism arranged to impart relciprocatory movement tothetroughs of such Econveyers. y V

Mechanisms of this character usually comprise a crank arranged to berotated at'a uniform speed and which is coupledto'the trough of theconveyer by a -connecting'rod or link CTi0 mechanism which modify f therectilinear movements of the trough inboth' the forward and backwardstrokes thereof-fromthe simple harmonic motion derived from uniformrorational movement ofthe crank so'as toeffect the trough at the end ofthe forwardfstroke than at the end of therearward'stroker rIlhis motionof the trough of the conveyer produces the conveying action.y n f y Thepresent -invention 4provides a mechanism which imparts reciprocatorymotion to the troughs of jigger conveyerslwhich produces animprovedconveying action as compared with that abovedescribed'andfzwhils't the reversal of motion imparted tothe Vtrough ofthe mechanism at each forward end ofthe stroke thereof, is relatively.much'more rapid than the reversal of motion atthe end of each n returnstroke thereof, the motion of the 3@ trough during the return strokeconforms substantially to simple rectilinear movement'derived fromuniform rotational movement, that is to say, to simple harmonic motion.

It is found that motion imparted in accordance with this invention-tothe trough 'of a jigger conveyer during the return -stroke thereof,whilst the material'in lthe trough is 'Figure 4,

l15 a. relatively more rapid reversal of motion of 1 pivotforming thetrunnions 13of the doublew armedlever 11, 12. vThe arm 12 of the double:ings 24 provided inthe casing 1. i

the driving mechanism 4.l

. Application med March 28,1931', Seria; No. 526,064, aaa in GreatBritain :nine 24, 1930.

-withthe coverplate of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1 removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional end view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a planview'of a portion of a modified formfof mechanism tothat illus trated in Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5-ef Figure 6 is a section kon theline'G-G ofggc -Figure4, and g `'Figures 7 and 8 are graphs illustratingthev rectilinear motion produced bythe mechanisms illustrated inF'igures'l to 6j Referring to yFigures 1 to 3, a casing 1 pre-@Q5 videdwith a cover plate 2 is mounted upon skid .members 3 in the"mannerpdescribed in fthe specifcationofpatent application Nc. 28627 of1930. -A driving mechanism 4, in-

dicated in Figure'2 in outline only,'isbolted 70 to the casing 1 and isarranged to rotate a crank shaft 5 mounted in bearings 6v and?":provided-in the casing 1 at a uniform speed.

The crank pin 8 of the crank shaft 5 is con-.

nected byy a connecting rod-9 to a pin 10 car 75 'riyedd by one arm 11ofthe bifurcated" double armed lever 11, 12 which is rotatably mountedon trunnions 13 in bearings '13a carried by the casing 1. The connectingrod '91s provided with a cut-away portion 14,*F1'gure`1,

s0 to vpermit the parts ofthe mechanismv to as- Y sume the positionindicated in vFigure 1, in lwhich position the cutaway portion 14isfarranged to clear the central portion ofr the armed lever is providedwith a pin 15 which is connected by a connecting rod-16 to a pin 17Amounted upon a slide fblock 18." The slide block 18 is mounted inguides' y19 so as to bef90 slidable in a longitudinal'direction. A pin20, mounted on the slide block 18, is :con-

nected by a link 21 toa crankl pin 22 provided upon a crank shaft 28mounted'in bearn 95 The crank shaft 23 is arranged to extend 'beyond oneside of the casing 1 and'is lmounted at its freev end in a bearing 25which is secured to one of the skid members 3 and to 100 A pair ofbifurcated arms 26, 27 are keyed to the crank shaft 23 between thecasing l in the bearing 25 in the manner indicated in Figures l and 2.The free ends of the arms 26, 27 are each provided with two holes 28, 29arranged in radial alignment along the arms. Apin 30 is located in theholes 29 of each of the arms 26, 27 so as to connect a link 3l to eachof the said arms. The other end 'of l each of the links 3l is providedwith a horizontally disposed rectangular hole through which a bar 32,rectangular in cross-section, is arranged to extend, the said bar beinglocked to the links 3l by means of bolts 33. The bar 32 extends beyondthe link 3l which is connected to the arm 27 and is connected by a pin34 to'one end of a connecting rod 35, the other end of which is arrangedto be connected by a pin 36 to the side of a trough of a jiggerconveyer, not shown.

It is to be observed that the bar 32 maybe arranged to extend upon theopposite side of the links 31, if required, to that illustrated in thedrawings so that a conveyer trough may be driven from the opposite sideof the mechanism. Further it will be appreciated that the pins 30 may bearranged to connect the links 31 to the arms 26, 27 by engagement withthe holes 28 in lieu. of the holes 29, thus affecting a slightly shorterstroke of the conveyer trough.

ln the modilication of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, thearms 27 on the shaft 23 are connected by a link 3l an-d pin 37 to aswivel connection comprising two articulated members 38, 39 connectedtogether by means of a pin 40. rThe member 39 is connected by means of apin 4l to one end 42 of a horizontally disposed double armed lever 42,43. The lever 42, 43 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 44 provided with ashoulder 45 (Figures 2 and 6) from which two pegs 46 extend in adownward direction and are arranged to be located in corresponding holes47 formed in one of the skid members 3. The lever 42, 43 is maintainedin place upon the pin 44 by a U-shaped strap 48 secured to the skidmember 3 by bolts 49.

.The strap 48 also maintains the pin 44 in position. The arm 43 of thelever 42, 43.is connected by a pin 50 to one end of a link 5l, the.other end of, which is connected by a pin 52 to a connecting rod 53. Theconnecting rod 53 is arranged to be coupled to the underside of aconveyer trough (not shown) .by means of a pin 54.

This arrangement permits the trough to be Vdriven from the centrethereof and is insome cases preferable to the arrangement of the driveat the side of the trough as disclosed in Figures l to 3. Y

If it is required to drive a trough upon the opposite side of amechanism to that effected with the arrangement of the mechanism shownin Figures 4 to 6,\the pin 44 is secured to the opposite side of theskid member 3 where a second set of holes 55 to receive the bolts 49 anda pair of holes 56 to receive. the pegs 46 are provided. The relativepositions of the link 3l and members 36, 39 and 'the link 5l andconnecting rod 53 are reversed so thatfthe link 31 is connected to thearm on the shaft 23.., l n

In all the constructions illustrated in the drawings, anchor plates 57are provided on the lskid members-3 to enable the lower end of pit propsto be located therein for the purpose of securing the mechanism on theiioorof a mine. ,Y

ln the operation of the mechanism the crank shaft 5 is rotated at a`uniform speed by the mechanism 4 as stated above in the direction of thearrow in Figure l. rihe parts of the mechanism are illustrated in thedrawings in a position which corresponds to the extreme forward limit ofmovement of the conveyor trough at which point during the normal workingofthemechanism a rela tively much more rapid reversing movement of thetrough is effected than at the opposite limit ofmovement thereof.

The operation of the mechanism will be described with reference to thegraphs shown in Figures 7 and 8 and is as follows The co-ordinate'OX ineach of the graphs indicatesindegrees the uniform rotation of .the crankshaft .5 and the co-ordinate OY um'forml velocity of the conveyor troughfor both the forward and return strokes.

rl'he dotted vline FY `indicates the velocity the trough would have ifits motion corresponded vto simpleharmonic motion. The full line 6indicates ,the velocity of the trough as produced by `a uniform rotationof the. crank shaft 5 in the `mechanism illustrated in Fig ures l to 6.The graph in Figure 7 indicates the velocity of the trough duringsuccessive forward and return strokes, whilst the graph Ain Figure 8indicates the velocity of the said trough during success-ive return andforward strokes.v vIt will be observed. from a studiof the two graphsthat the reversal of movement between the forward and return strokes Vasindicated at the point D in Figure 7 is relatively much more rapid thanthe reversal' of movement between the return and neat forward strokewhich is indicated at the --point E in Figure 8.

During a complete cycle of operation of the mechanism it will beobserved from the g-raphs'that during a forward stroke (that is, when"the conveyer and material are moving together) an acceleration of thetrough is produced which is initially much slow-er than would be thecase if it were moved in a simple harmonic motion. The trough is thenaccelerrvated into' a substantially uniform speed which ismaintainedmfory avrelatively large portion of the forward stroke.Towards the end `of aforesaid, and this relatively rapid change ofvelocity is continued during the first small portion ofthe returnstrokeafter which the return stroke conforms `substantially to simple harmonicmotion.

It is tok be observedA that the position of `the parts of the mechanismindicated in Figures 1 to 6, corresponds to the position which theconveyer trough would have at the point D in Figure 7.

The reciprocatory motion produced by the mechanism above ydescribedresults in a movement of theV trough of the conveyer which causes thematerial in the trough to be carried forward therewith but the rapidreversal of movement at the end of the said forward movement of thetrough causes the material, due to its inertia, to remain sub- Kstantially in the forward position while the trough moves through itsreturn stroke, the velocities of the trough during the return strokebeing such as to enhance the conveying action to a considerable extent.-At the end of the return stroke thegradual `reversal of motion and theprolonged period during which this reversal is effected causes thematerial to settle in the trough and to be carried `forward therebyduring the next forward stroke. Y

With mechanisms illustrated in the drawings suitable dimensions for theparts thereof are as follows Referring to Figure 1, the crank shaft 5 isarranged to produce a stroke of 8%. The axis of the crank shafti isdisposed upon the same horizontal centre line as the axis vof thetrunnions 13 and is separated there-v disposed at a distance of 4 belowthe axis of the trunnions 13 and crank shaft 5 whilst the pin 20 isspaced in a horizontal direction .at a distance of 14". The axis of thepin 2O is disposed at a distance of 5% below thc axis of the crank shaft5. The link 21 has la length of 26% between centres and the crank pin 22is spaced from the crank shaft 23 by a distance ofl/g. The holes 28 inthe arm 26, 27 have a radial distance from the axis of the shaft 23 of5%, whilst the corresponding radial distance of the holes 29vis 71/2. Itis 'to be observed that the p radial line passing through the axis .ofthe shaft 3 and centres of the holes 28, 29 is offset in a clockwisedirection from the radial line through the pin 22 bya distance of S/fgor about an anole of 39 in a clockwise direcline through the pin 22 isindicated at A .in Figure 1 whilst the radial line passing throughtheholes 28,V 29 is indicated at B, Figure 1. The length of the links 31,Figures 1 and 2, is 2 feet between centrcs,-butit is to be observed thatthisv dimension is not material to the particular embodiment of theinvention illustrated. I

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures f4 to 6, ther distance fromthe centres ofthe pin SOin the arm 27 and the pin 4-1 is 2 feet when thelink 31 and articulated members 38, 39 are arranged in alignment withone antionat the centre of the pin 22. The radial other in the fullyextended position thereof and the distance between the centres of eachof the pins 11, 50 and the centre of the pin all is 20%.

It will be understood thatithe dimensions given above are merelyindicative of the rela tive proportions of the mechanism .which give thebest results in practice in accordance with the invention.

It is to be understood that numerous modifications may be made in thearrangement of the parts of the mechanism in accordance with thisinventionso long as the motion imparted to the vc'onveyer troughconforms to that above described.

It will be appreciated that with the constructions of mechanismillustrated in the drawings, it is possible for the conveyer trough tobe disposed relatively very close te; either side of the mechanism, thusensuring that a minimum space is required for theconveyer plant.

Further, it will be appreciated that by the provision of the crank shaft23 to form an 'operativeconnection between the driving Vmechanism andthe conveyer trough, it is possible'for the casing 1 to be completelysealed and for the parts disposed therein to operate in an oil bath.This is a particularly important feature when conveyers are vemployed inmines as it prevents the access of dust to the bearings of the mechanismami. therefore, materially prolongs the useful. life thereof. i Y

It will be observed from Figure 3 that a skid member 3 is provided whichis of considerably greater width than the skid members illustrated invFigures 1 to 3; This enables a larger number of anchor plates 57 to beprovided on the said skid member which may, therefore, be maintained inplace upon the floor of the mine by a correspondingljs-7 greater numberof pit props, thus providin a'relativel much more rigid anchoraoe h bfor the pin 44 upon which the entire thrust of the trough of theconveyer is imposed.

I claim 1. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughsof jigger conveyers which comprises a driving crank coupled by aconnecting rod to one arm of a pivot-ally mounted double-armed lever,the other arm of which is connected to a second connecting rod arrangedto be operatively connected to the trough of a jigger cenveyer, bothsaid connecting rods being disposed at acute angles to the respectivearms of said doublearmed lever when the mechanism is in a positioncorresponding to the extreme forward limit of movement of the trough.

2. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises a crank coupled by a connecting rod to one armof a pivotally mounted double-armed lever, the other arm of which iscoupled by a second connecting rod to a slide block arranged to beoperatively connected to the trough of a jigger conveyer, both saidconnecting rods being disposed at acute angles to the respectiveA armsof said double-armed lever and the second rod at an acute angle to thedirection of movement of said slide block when the mechanism is in aposition corresponding to the extreme forward limit of movement of thetrough.

3. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs ofjig-'ger conveyers which comprises an oil-tight casing, a driving crankdisposed within said casing and the shaft of which is mounted in andextends through a bearing formed in a wall of the said casing, aconnecting rod coupling said crank to one arm of a pivotally mounteddoublearmed lever, the other arm of which is cou-v pled by a secondconnecting rod to a slide block, a link connecting said slide block to asecond crank, the shaft of which is carried in and extends through atleast one bearing provided in the walls of said casing and at least onearm on said second crank shaft located exteriorly of said casing foroperatively connecting the mechanism to the trough of a jig-gerconveyer, and wherein the aforesaid connecting rods are disposed atacute angles to the respective arms of the double-armed lever and thesecond connecting rod at an acute angle in the direction of movement ofthe slide block when the mechanisin is in a position corresponding` tothe extreme forward limit of movement of the trough.

4. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises an oil-tight casing, a driving crank disposedwithin said casing and the shaft of which is mounted in and extendsthrough a bearing formed in a wall of the said casing, a connecting rodcoupling said crank to one arm of a pivotally mounted doublearmedlever,the other arm of which is coupled by a second connecting rod to aslide block, a link conneetingsaid slide block to a 'located eXteriorlyof said casing for operatively connecting the mechanism to the trough ofa jigger conveyer, and'wherein the aforesaid connecting rods aredisposed at acute angles to the respective arms of the doublearmed leverand the second connecting rod at an acute angle to the direction ofmovement of slide block and the said link at an acute angle to thesecond crank when the mechanism is in a position corresponding totheextreme forward limit of movement of the trough.

5. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises a driving crank, a connecting rod couplingsaid crank to one arm of a pivotally mounted double-armed lever, theother arm of which is coupled by a second connecting rod to ay slideblock, a link connecting said slide block to a Asecond crank, a pair ofarms on said second crankshaft, one of a pair of coupling rods securedat one end to each of said pair of arms, and a bar member reversablymounted at the other ends of said coupling rods, so that it may bearranged to extend upon either side thereof and means for connectingsaid bar member to the trough of a conveyer, and wherein both theaforesaid connecting rods are disposed at acut-e angles to therespective arms of the double-armed lever and the second connecting Yrod at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the slide blockwhen the mechanism is in a position corresponding to the eXtreme -ingcrank disposed within said casing and the shaft of which is mounted inand extends through Va bearing formed in a wall of the said casing, aconnecting rod coupling said 1 crank to one arm of a pivotally mounteddouble-armed lever,the other arm of which is coupled by a secondconnecting rod to a slide block, a link connecting said slide block to asecond crank, the shaft of which is carried in and extends through atleast one bearing provided in the walls of said casing, a pair of armson said second crankshaft located eX- teriorly of said casing, one of apair of cou.

pling rods secured at one end to each of said pair of arms, and a barmember reversably mounted at the other ends of'said coupling rods, sothat it may be arranged to extend upon either side thereof and means forconnecting said bar member to the trough of a jigger conveyer, andwherein both the aforesaid connecting rods are disposed at acute anglesto the respective arms of the doublearmed lever and the secondconnecting rod at an acute angle to the direction of movement of theslide block when the mechanism is in a position corresponding to theextreme forward limit of movement of the trough.

7. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises a driving crank, a connecting rod couplingsaid crank to one arm of a pivotally mounted double-armed lever, theother arm of which is coupled by a second connecting rod to a slideblock, a link connecting said slide block to a second crank, at leastone arm on said second crank shaft, an operative connection between thesaid arm and one arm of a pivotally mounted doublearmed lever, the otherarm of which is arranged to be connected to the trough of a conveyer andmeans whereby the last said doublearmed lever may be mounted upon themechanism so as to extend upon either side thereof, and wherein both theaforesaid connecting rods are disposed at acute angles to the respectivearms of the first said double-armed lever and the second connecting rodat an acute angle to the direction of movement of the slide block whenthe mechanism is in a position corresponding to the extreme forwardlimit of movement' of the trough.

8. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises an oil-tight casing, a driving crank, disposedwithin said casing and the shaft of which is mounted in and extendsthrough a bearing formed in a wall of the said casing, a connecting rodcoupling said crank to one arm of a pivotally mounteddouble-armed lever,the other arm of which is coupled by a second connecting rod to a slideblock, a link connecting said slide block to a second crank, the shaftof which is carried in and extends through at least one bearing providedin the walls of said casing and at least one arm on said secondcrankshaft, located exteriorly of said casing, an operative connectionbetween the said arm and one arm of a pivotally mounted double-armedlever, the other arm of which is arranged to be connected to the troughof a conveyer and means whereby the last said double-armed lever may bemounted upon the mechanism so as to extend upon either side thereof, andwherein both the aforesaid connecting rods are disposed at acute anglesto the respective arms of the first said double-armed lever and thesecond connecting rod at an acute angle to the direction of movement ofthe slide block when the mechanism is in a position corresponding to theextreme forward limit of movement of the trough.

9. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises an oil-tight casing, a driving crank disposedWithin said casing and the shaft of which extends through a bearingprovided in a wall of said casing, a connecting rod coupling said crankto one arm of a pivotally mounted double-armed lever, the-other arm ofwhich is connected to a second connecting rod, and an operativeconnection extending through said casing between said second connectingrod and means for ,connection to the trough of a jigger conveyer andwherein both said connecting rods are disposed at acute angles to therespective arms of'sad double-armed lever when the mechanism is in aposition corresponding to the extreme forward limit o-f movement of thetrough. I

l0. ln a mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of)igger conveyers the combination o-f the following part-s havingsubstantially the relative dimensions specified driving crank having astroke of 8.25 units couple'dby a connecting 'rod of 15.5 units to onearm of a pivotally mounted double-armed lever, each arm of which is 5.25units, the distance between centres of the -crankshaft andthe ypivot ofthe doublearmed lever being l5 units, and a second connectingrodconnected to the other arm of said lever and arrangedto beoperatively connected to the trough of a-jigger conveyer, both saidconnecting-rods being disposed at acute angles to the respective arms ofsaid lever when the mechanism is in a position corresponding to theextreme forward limit of movement of the trough. i

1l. VIn a mechanism for imparting recipro'catory'motion to the troughsof jigger con-` ve'yers the combination of the following parts havingsubstantially the relative dimensions speciiedz-a driving crank having astrokel of 8.25 units coupled by a connecting rod of 15.5 units to onearm of a pivotally mounted double-armedlever, each arm of which is 5.25

units, the distance between centres of the crankshaft and the pivot ofthe double-- armed lever being 15 units,and a second connecting rod `8.75 units long connecting the. other arm of said double-armed lever to aslide block adapted'for connection to the trough of a jigger conveyer,both said connecting rods being disposed at acute angles to therespective arms of the double-armed lever and the second connecting rodat an acute angle to the direction of movement of the slide block whenthe mechanism is in a position corresponding to the extreme forwardlimit of movement of the trough.

12. Mechanismfor imparting reciprocatory motion to the troughs of jiggerconveyers which comprises a driving crank,.having a stroke of A8.25units, a connecting rod 15.5 units long 'coupling said crank to one arm5.25 unit-s long of a vpivotally mounted double-armed lever, the otherarm 5.25 units long of which is coupled by a second connect- 26.375units long' connecting said 'slide block to a secondcrank oi" 6.5 unitsradius, a pair et' arms 5.25 units long on saidsecond crankshaft, one ofa pair of couplingvv rods secured at one end to eachv ot said pair ofarms, and a bar member reversably mounted at the other ends of saidcoupling rods, so that it may be arranged to extend upon either sidethereof and means for connecting; said bar member to the trough of ajigger conveyer, and wherein l@ both the aforesaid connecting rods aredicposed at acute angles to the respective arms of the double-armedlever and the second connecting rod at an acute angle to the directionof movement of the slide block when the 35 mechanism is in a positioncorresponding to the eXtreme forward limit of movement of the trough.

13. Mechanism for imparting reciprocatory motion to the trough of jiggerconvey- 29 ers which comprises a driving crank having a stroke of 8.25units, a connecting rod 15.5 units long coupling said crank to one arm5.25 units long of a pivotally mounted double-armed lever, the other arm5.25 units 25' long of which is coupled by a second connect' ing rod.8.75 units longl to a slide block. a linlr 26.375 units long connectingsaid slide block to a second crank of 6.5 units radius, at least one arm5.25 units long on said second 35 crankshaft, an operative connectionbetween the said arm and one arm 20.875 units long of a pivotallymounted doublearmed lever, the other arm 20.375 'units long of which isarranged to be connected to the trough of a '35' eonveyer and meanswhereby the last said double-armed lever may be mounted upon themechanism so as to extend upon either side thereof, and wherein both theaforesaid connecting rods are disposed at acute angles to Il@ therespective arms et the first said double armed lever and the secondconnecting rod at an acute angle to the direction of movement ot theslide block when the mechanism is in a position corresponding to theeXtreme e5 forward limit of movement of the trough.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ERNEST RIDGILL.

